One of the pleasures of this Brunetti novel is the reappearance of archaeologist Brett, who brought the Xian exhibit to Venice a few years ago, and her lover Flavia, diva at Milan and all over the opera world. The novel opens with the severe beating of Brett in her own home by two unknown men, who warn her not to keep her appointment with the head of Venice's major museum, where the Xian exhibit was held. Brunetti visits her in the hospital as a friend, but when the head of the museum is murdered, he is assigned to the case. Brett had just learned that a few of the pots are fakes, which is what brings her from Xian to discuss the matter with the museum director. His death makes her rethink the accidental death in China of her assistant, who packed the exhibit in Venice for its return to China. Brunetti gets embroiled in the art world and the Mafia, as he tries to learn who would substitute fakes for the real thing. One of the best, for its character development, including that of the bad guys, Brunetti's maturing children, and his co workers, including the highly moral Signorina Elettra, who uses means Brunetti is sure are illegal to help him bring down the perps, in the middle of Venice's annual super-high tides.